Getting the aesthetics and function right for replacing a missing front tooth is crucial – especially as you’ll be living with the restoration.
Choosing the right treatment will depend on:
We recommend dental implants as a long-term prosthetic solution. They are truly the best choice for both function and natural aesthetics. Explore dental implants.
Is it OK not to replace a missing front tooth?
It’s not recommended. Whilst you might think you can live with it – you’ll find that over time you might come to regret this decision. When you lose a tooth, the bone in the jaw begins to deplete, which never grows back.
How long can I actually leave a missing front tooth before it's a problem?
There's no hard deadline, but the bone under the gap can start thinning within months of losing the tooth, not years. If you're weighing up options, aim to have a plan within three to six months. Longer than that and you may need bone grafting later, which adds cost and time you didn't need to spend.
Can a single front tooth be replaced on its own?
Yes, an implant, Maryland bridge, partial denture or flipper can all be done for one tooth alone. A traditional bridge is the one exception, since it needs the two neighbouring teeth for support.
What if I'm missing two front teeth, not one?
It's more common than you'd think, and it doesn't automatically mean two separate implants. Two adjacent missing front teeth can often be restored with two implants supporting a short bridge between them, which keeps the cost down without giving up the bone-preserving benefit implants are known for. Our implant-supported bridges goes into this in more depth.
Does losing a front tooth change how you speak?
It can, particularly sounds like f, v, th and s, since your front teeth help control airflow and where your tongue lands. Most patients tell us this corrects itself almost immediately once the gap is filled, whatever option they go with.
Consequences of a missing incisor?
The method you choose to replace your missing front tooth is up to you – but make it carefully. Changing your mind can result in more costly alterations, so it’s important you discuss all your options at length with a missing teeth dentist like us.
*£2,500 inclusive of abutment, post and crown, scans and surgery
Honestly, most people who land on this page aren't ready to book anything on day one — that's fine. There are two more routes worth knowing about, and neither commits you to much.
Maryland bridge, sometimes called a resin-bonded bridge, is the quieter cousin of the bridge above. Instead of crowning the teeth either side of the gap, your dentist bonds a thin metal or ceramic wing to the back of them, and that holds the false tooth in place. Nothing gets filed down. It won't take the same bite pressure as an implant or a full bridge, so it tends to suit smaller front-tooth gaps rather than back teeth or heavy grinders.
Flipper, a removable, gum-coloured plate with one false tooth clipped on. It's cheap, it's fast (days, not weeks), and it's genuinely the thing most people wear the day their tooth comes out, while the real decision gets made. We wouldn't recommend one as a permanent fix as the acrylic wears, it can feel loose when you're eating, and the bone underneath keeps shrinking regardless of what's sitting on top of it.
If your tooth has literally just come out, knocked out, snapped, whatever, don't sit here working through options first. Read what to do in a dental emergency, then come back to the rest of this page.
Patients worried about the cost will be pleased to discover they don’t have to pay their treatment fees upfront for implants, bridges or dentures.
At our London clinic, we’re proud to offer our patients the opportunity to spread the cost of their missing back tooth treatment over 12 months using 0% financing.
For example, you could pay £104.16 monthly using 12 months of 0% finance by placing a 50% deposit. Longer terms are available with additional APR.
